Electricity from solar systems has never been more cost-effective. This is why it’s an appealing alternative for many homeowners. When you are thinking about installing solar power to your home, it’s easy to get caught up in the details.
Here are the three primary kinds of home solar arrangements:
- Off-Grid
- Grid-Tied
- Hybrid
They all have their advantages and disadvantages, so we’re going to give you all the information you need to make an informed decision.
Grid-Tied Solar
A solar system that’s grid-tied relies on your local electrical grid. The DC power produced with the photovoltaic (PV) paneling gets transferred through a grid-tied inverter that transforms it into AC electricity. This kind of power is compatible with the grid.
If you’re buying or leasing a grid-tie arrangement, you’ll sign a net metering agreement with the utility firm. The terms are usually dependent on your state, but typically set the price of the power meter and the power transferred to the grid.
Off-Grid Solar
Off-grid arrangements have the ability to run independently from the grid. Additional hardware is needed to attain this standard. DC electricity produced by the PV panels gets transferred into a charge controller. This measures and controls the charge rather than the utility company’s grid.
It gets fed to a DC battery bank after that where it is placed into storage. The charge controller will figure out if it needs to full-load charge, trickle charge or stop the current from overloading the bank.
Your house links up to the battery bank with a power inverter. This inverter transforms the DC electricity from your batteries into the 120V AC electricity used by the majority of outlets.
Even though lead-acid car batteries could be utilized to make a battery bank, this isn’t advised. These batteries lifespans are very expedited, particularly if they’re used each day. Such batteries squander roughly 20% of the energy stored. This waste precious power and undermines the “green” aspect of your solar system.
Hybrid Solar
If you want the best of both of these options, you could choose a hybrid solar arrangement. When you use a hybrid setup, the solar battery gets utilized as a reserve if the grid were to go down.
Because it is being utilized as a reserve rather than a full-time connection, the battery releases energy infrequently. This increases its life. The battery you won’t be replaced as frequently as the other choices and you won’t have to buy a backup generator. Remember that battery banks don’t get charged when the power goes out. Solar panels that are tied to the grid are meant to and their power production in the event that the power goes out.